Jacob Martens: village dentist and pioneer medical care giver; born 1 January 1856 in Neuenburg, Chortitza Colony, Russia, to Jacob and Maria (Harder) Martens, and his wife Katharina (Sawatzky) Martens (1861-193?): mid-wife; born on 13 May 1861 to Peter and Katharina (Harder) Sawatzky. Both Jacob Martens and Katharina Sawatzky were born in Russia but immigrated to Canada as teenagers with Mennonites from the Bergthal Colony. Katharina was baptized on 10 June 1878 in Manitoba. Jacob and Katharina were married on 27 October 1878. The couple had 11 children, all of whom survived childhood. The Martens homestead was located at the extreme south end of the village of Kronsgardt in the Manitoba Mennonite East Reserve.

Katharina was a midwife and attended the births of many of the village babies. Jacob served as the village dentist in addition to helping with smallpox vaccinations and treatments for high blood pressure. Treating patients sometimes involved long trips by horse and wagon to remote homes. Jacob and Katharina shared freely of their knowledge of home remedies and wisdom of their own experiences.

From 1908-1921 Jacob Martens served as a councillor for the Municipality of Hanover. He was remembered as a well-liked and cabable politician during this entire period which included the difficult war years when Anglo-conformity was aggressively imposed on the community.

Jacob Martens died in 1936 and Katharina died a few years later in Kronsgart.